Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West CenterWith Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Nauru Asylum Seekers On Hunger Strike CollapseAt least one refugee may be close to death

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Nov. 8, 2012) – Several asylum seekers in Australia’s detention centre in Nauru have collapsed as a result of an indefinite hunger strike and it’s feared one will die soon.

377 asylum seekers are awaiting processing in Nauru after Australia re-established offshore processing to deter those trying to reach Australia.

A hunger-strike was launched eight days ago and a Palestinian asylum seeker in the camp Sayed Muhammad says 300 men are involved, despite claims by Australian officials that the figures are a lot lower.

He says a number of men have collapsed from weakness in the last three to four days and says doctors are concerned that one Iranian man, who started a hunger strike about 27 days ago, could die.

He says they are refusing food in the hope that they will get some response from Australia’s Immigration Department.

Sayed Muhammad was at the detention centre on Christmas Island before being transferred to Nauru and says the conditions at Nauru are far worse.